MOWCA backs expanded Blue Economy investment in Niger Delta

Paul Adalikwu, Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), and Chief Dr Solomon Edebiri, Board Secretary of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA), have renewed calls for investment in the Niger Delta Blue Economy during a strategic meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Thursday, 21 August 2026, with both sides exploring partnerships to turn the region’s maritime assets into jobs, trade and sustainable economic growth.

The meeting came at an important moment for the Niger Delta, where economic diversification remains closely tied to the search for alternatives to a long-standing dependence on oil and gas.

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Adalikwu described the region’s waterways, coastline and access to the Gulf of Guinea as a “divine blessing”, but stressed that the potential would require strategic investment, sustainable policies and effective public-private partnerships to produce lasting economic value.

“MOWCA is interested in initiatives that advance regional maritime cooperation, Blue Economy development, infrastructure, renewable energy and sustainable growth across West and Central Africa,” Adalikwu said.

The MOWCA chief identified maritime transport, fishing, tourism, aquaculture, underwater mining and renewable energy among the opportunities capable of expanding the region’s economic base.

The significance of the discussion extends beyond the Niger Delta itself. The region’s position on the Gulf of Guinea gives it the potential to serve as a platform for maritime trade, logistics and other ocean-based industries serving markets across West and Central Africa.

For NDCCITMA, the engagement formed part of preparations for the inaugural Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit and Exhibition, NDEIS 2026, scheduled for 15 to 17 September at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The summit is being organised in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission and carries the theme, “Driving Investment, Innovation, and Industrial Growth in the Niger Delta.”

NDCCITMA said the delegation travelled to Abidjan to follow up on an invitation extended to Adalikwu to attend the summit as Special Guest and Keynote Speaker.

The organisers are positioning NDEIS 2026 as an investment-focused platform rather than another conventional conference. NDCCITMA’s official programme information indicates that the three-day event is expected to attract about 1,500 delegates and more than 200 exhibitors.

The planned programme includes investment matchmaking, exhibitions, sectoral discussions, business-to-business meetings and business-to-government engagements, with the stated aim of converting the Niger Delta’s economic potential into bankable projects.

The wider investment agenda extends beyond maritime activities. NDCCITMA has identified agriculture and agro-processing, compressed natural gas, industrial development, logistics, warehousing, packaging, export production and renewable energy as areas with significant potential.

The Chambers also said its Economic Development Initiative had supported more than 4,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through structured financing in less than a year.

The Blue Economy component, however, carries particular significance because of the Niger Delta’s extensive network of rivers, creeks, coastal communities and ports.

Proper investment in fisheries, aquaculture, marine transport, coastal infrastructure, logistics and renewable energy could create opportunities for communities whose economic fortunes have historically been closely connected to the oil industry.

The opportunity is also consistent with Adalikwu’s broader regional agenda.

In February, Adalikwu was unanimously re-elected for a second four-year term as MOWCA Secretary-General at the organisation’s 19th General Assembly in Banjul, The Gambia. MOWCA represents 25 West and Central African member states.

Following his re-election, Adalikwu pledged to pursue a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable shipping agenda while advancing an inclusive African Blue Economy capable of supporting economic diversification.

His recent interventions have also emphasised a broader question of ownership.

Speaking at the inaugural Blue Africa Conference in Lagos on 13 August, Adalikwu argued that Africa must move beyond generating maritime value for export and take greater ownership of its ships, ports, logistics, technology and other parts of the ocean economy.

That position adds context to the MOWCA engagement with NDCCITMA.

The objective is not simply to attract foreign investment into the Niger Delta, but to develop the infrastructure, skills and commercial structures that allow local businesses and communities to retain a greater share of the value generated from maritime resources.

Potential areas of collaboration identified during the Abidjan meeting include maritime infrastructure, renewable energy, investment mobilisation, technical capacity building, Gulf of Guinea cooperation, maritime trade and logistics, as well as links with international development partners.

The two organisations also noted the alignment between NDEIS 2026 and MOWCA’s mandate on maritime transport, safety, infrastructure, trade facilitation and sustainable development.

Yet the scale of the opportunity should not obscure the challenges.

The Niger Delta continues to face infrastructure gaps, environmental pressures, logistics constraints and the complex legacy of decades of petroleum production.

Turning maritime potential into sustainable wealth will therefore require more than conferences and investment pledges.

It will require credible projects, transparent governance, reliable infrastructure, financing and sustained cooperation between governments, communities and private investors.

For MOWCA, the renewed engagement offers an opportunity to connect the Niger Delta more closely with a wider regional maritime agenda.

For NDCCITMA, the immediate test will be whether the conversations in Abidjan can translate into partnerships and investments when NDEIS 2026 convenes in Port Harcourt next month.

The prospect is considerable. With the right policies and investment framework, the Niger Delta’s waterways could become more than a geographical feature. They could become a powerful engine for trade, employment and economic diversification.

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The working visit ended with MOWCA expressing willingness to continue discussions with NDCCITMA and other Nigerian stakeholders on practical initiatives to advance the region’s maritime and economic development.